Vision correction with laser refractive index changes

Abstract

Methods and systems wherein laser induced refractive index changes by focused femtosecond laser pulses in optical polymeric materials or optical tissues is performed to address various types of vision correction.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for providing an intraocular telescope lens system in an eye, comprising:
 providing a negative power lens element in the eye by (i) inserting an intraocular lens comprising a negative power lens element in the eye, or (ii) modifying the refractive index of crystalline lens tissue of the eye by irradiating select regions of the crystalline lens tissue with a focused, visible or near-IR laser below the optical breakdown threshold of the crystalline lens tissue to form a negative power lens element in the crystalline lens that exhibits a change in refractive index relative to non-irradiated crystalline lens tissue, and exhibits little or no scattering loss, and scanning over the select regions with the laser such that ablation or removal of the tissue is not observed in the irradiated region, and 
 modifying the refractive index of cornea tissue of the eye by irradiating select regions of the cornea tissue with a focused, visible or near-IR laser below the optical breakdown threshold of the cornea tissue to provide a positive power lens element in the cornea that exhibits a change in refractive index relative to non-irradiated cornea tissue, and exhibits little or no scattering loss, and scanning over the select regions with the laser such that ablation or removal of the tissue is not observed in the irradiated region, and 
 wherein the negative and positive power lens elements are aligned along an optical axis in the eye. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the negative power lens element is provided by modifying the refractive index of crystalline lens tissue of the eye by irradiating select regions of the crystalline lens tissue with a focused, visible or near-IR laser below the optical breakdown threshold of the crystalline lens tissue to provide a negative power lens element in the crystalline lens that exhibits a change in refractive index relative to non-irradiated crystalline lens tissue, and exhibits little or no scattering loss, and scanning over the select regions with the laser such that ablation or removal of the tissue is not observed in the irradiated region. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the negative power lens element is provided by inserting an intraocular lens comprising a negative power lens element in the eye. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focused, visible or near-IR laser has a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 10 nJ. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprises applying a multiple-photon-absorbing chromophore to the crystalline lens tissue or cornea tissue prior to modifying the refractive index of the crystalline lens tissue or cornea tissue. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the multiple-photon-absorbing chromophore comprises a two-photon-absorbing chromophore. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser emits pulses at a frequency between 1 MHz and 10 GHz. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the laser frequency is between 10 MHz and 500 MHz. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser has a pulse width between 10 fs and 100 fs. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser pulses have an average power between 1 mW and 1,000 mW. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser pulses have a pulse energy between 0.01 nJ and 10 nJ. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the laser pulses have a pulse energy between 0.1 and 2 nJ. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focus spot is scanned at a scanning speed of at least 100 mm/s. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser pulses have a wavelength between 600 and 1,000 nm. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser pulses have a wavelength between 1,000 and 1,300 nm. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser pulses have a wavelength between 350 and 600 nm. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1  wherein the provided positive power lens element in the cornea comprises a laser-modified GRIN layer. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provided positive power lens element in the cornea comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Bragg gratings, microlens arrays, zone plates, and Fresnel lenses.